Guide · Roommates and shared living

Chores and Cleaning Schedules

A friendly, practical guide to sharing the work of a home fairly, with simple schedules and checklists everyone can follow.

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Where to start

Chores slipping already?
Talk about the chart, not the person. See when chores start to slip.
Setting up a new home?
List every chore and split by effort. See setting up the plan.
Want small jobs to stop piling up?
Try the two minute rule: if it takes less than two minutes, do it now.

The short version

Chores are one of the most common sources of tension in shared homes, and a simple written plan takes most of that tension away.

Split chores fairly by time and effort, let people pick tasks they mind least, and rotate the tough ones like bathrooms and trash weekly.

Clean daily basics as you go, do bathrooms, floors and trash weekly, and plan a deeper clean a few times a year.

When chores slip, talk about the chart instead of the person, offer swaps, and adjust the plan together at a monthly check-in.

Never mix cleaning products like bleach and ammonia, and follow every label. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.

Four simple rules

1
Write it down
A simple chore chart everyone can see beats any unspoken expectation, every time.
2
Fair, not identical
Balance chores by time and effort, and let people choose tasks they mind least.
3
Rotate the tough ones
Bathrooms, trash and floors rotate weekly, so no one is stuck with the least-loved jobs.
4
Check in, kindly
A short monthly check-in keeps the plan working as schedules and lives change.

Try it

Your chore plan checklist

From the guide’s own checklist for setting up and keeping the plan. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home may need others.

0 of 8

Every chore in the home listed, from daily dishes to monthly fridge clean outs
Time each one takes estimated, so the split is fair by effort
Each person picked tasks they mind least, the rest rotate weekly
Schedule posted where everyone can see it
What “done” means agreed, with a short checklist for each room
How shared cleaning supplies are bought and split decided
A short check in held once a month
A bigger deep clean planned a few times a year

When chores start to slip

Check the chart together, so the conversation is about the plan, not the person.
Ask kindly, “Is this schedule still working for you?” and really listen.
Offer a swap or a catch up day instead of a complaint.
Adjust the plan together if it isn’t fair or realistic, and write down the change.
If it keeps happening, revisit your roommate agreement together, or ask a neutral friend to help you talk.

Kind and clear works best.

Test yourself

How much do you remember?

4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.

From The Perfect Series

Go deeper with The Perfect Series

When you want more than a guide, the books in The Perfect Series go room by room and step by step, in the same calm, plain words.

See the books

Keep the full guide handy

The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.

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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or medical advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties or decide deposits.